Songs Never Recorded

When I was a kid, I desperately wanted to be a rock star.  I didn't focus on learning an instrument or on my vocals, but I did write hundreds of songs.  Check out the Poetry link as I will periodically post these songs.

School Again

It seems like Johnny is growing up a little, as most kids do from year to year.  Check out the poetry link for his latest update. (This will be his last update leading up to the new book!)

Ford Recall UPDATE

So, 30 minutes after sharing the blog post on Facebook and Twitter, the dealership calls me and will have a rental/loaner car I can drive first thing in the morning. Coincidence? You decide.

Ford Focus Transmission Recall

Typically, I do not post personal issues on this blog, but there is always an exception to every rule. The below message is what I've sent to numerous attorneys in and around the Atlanta area as well as to the Clark Howard team. Perhaps you can join me in frustration and/or forward this message to everyone you can so the million or so folks that are effected might see some satisfaction...

"Good morning,

My story begins with a 2012 Ford Focus transmission issue.  

In November 2014, I purchased a used 2012 Ford Focus hatchback from the Pugmire Ford dealership in Cartersville, GA.  On Thursday, July 16, 2015, around 2:00 pm, I was taking my daughter to daycare when the car malfunctioned.  It slipped out of gear and seemed to be in a neutral state- despite the shift stick continuing to be in D (drive).  The car rolled to a stop, and I was lucky enough to move it to the side of the road.  They key was still in the ignition but would not crank.  The displays and front lights were still on so I did not believe the problem was electrical in nature nor a battery issue.  After several minutes of attempting to crank the car, it eventually started.  I stopped by the Wal-Mart service center (since it was close in proximity).  They replaced my battery (costing approximately $100).  I was skeptical that I needed a battery, but took their advice regardless.  My wife picked us up and drove my daughter to daycare.  Once Wal-Mart had completed the battery replacement, I picked the car up and drove it (going below 40 mph) back home. 

The next day (Friday, July 17, 2015), I drove the Focus to work (45 miles from my house) going really slow in the right lane.  It had problems switching between gears, but did not stop as it previously had the afternoon before.  However, when driving home it did completely quit on the highway.  (((By the way, I live in Cartersville and drive to Atlanta every day on I-75. It takes about an hour and a half each way.))) I was in the second lane from the left because of the way I-75 and I-85 splits.  There's no shoulder on the left side, so when the car quit, I had to make my way to the right shoulder.  The car was slowly rolling while others were zipping past on both sides.  I felt my life was in danger.  I luckily saw an opening and shot across to the right shoulder cutting several lanes of cars off.  Just like the previous day, I took the key out of the ignition, waited 10 minutes and could crank it again. I drove extremely slowly and eventually made it home.

I worked Saturday morning and didn't have a chance to take the vehicle to the Pugmire Ford dealership service center prior to them closing for the weekend. So, first thing Monday morning (7/20/15), I went by the service center. I was forced to take a day off from work to deal with the issue.  Pam, the service center manager, listened to me tell my story, and she said it sounded like a clutch issue- but they were out of the parts. In the meantime, she had a service guy get in the passenger seat of my car and go on a drive with me.  We only circled the block, turning around in a church parking lot.  We did not run the vehicle above maybe 35 mph. He kept commenting on how poorly the car was switching gears. When we returned to the dealership, I parked in a parking spot (not in a service garage) and he brought out a laptop.  He hooked it to my car while sitting in the driver seat.  After maybe 10 minutes he informed me that it is the clutch issue and for me to go see Pam again. When I returned, all she said was I was on a list. I asked her what to do in the meantime and she said it was drivable- but I told her it really wasn't.  She said most people are driving them currently until they get the part in.  However, it would be awhile since I'm 16th on the list for the part and she had no idea when Ford would send it.  At that point, I realized there was something bigger going on. I asked Pam if I could have a loaner car until my car was fixed, but she said they couldn’t issue one until they were actually performing the work on my car.  Becoming a little agitated, I thought maybe a different Ford service center might get me in quicker. I called a larger dealership (Jim Tidwell Ford) in Kennesaw, GA, and the service adviser explained they had over 150 people in their list for the part.

Not knowing what to do, as I need a vehicle to get to and from work, I called my insurance company (Allstate, Sam Braly). They quickly informed me there was nothing they can do either. I was increasingly becoming worried.  So I called corporate Ford and the customer care representative listened to my story and created a case number.  The next day I borrowed my father’s car- and he moved his day around to help me out, just so I could get to work and back home.  I received a call from a Regional Rep named Debbie (she didn’t give me her last name). She said she had escalated my issue and hopes to get it resolved.  Of course, that answer really doesn’t help me, as she couldn’t give me any time line. She said the guy who took the drive around the block with me on Monday morning listed my car as “drivable” so Ford has no liability and didn’t have to issue me a rental or loaner. I told her that I drive a lot farther than most drivers, and that I don't care where I fall in the spectrum that indicates “drivable” or “non-drivable”-  I need a vehicle to get to work. It's their product that malfunctioned and there’s nothing I could do about it.  

My first issue is with the sales person, Mike from Pugmire Ford.  He did not disclose the fact that the Ford Focus I was purchasing was subject to a recall.  Did he know that information?  Perhaps.  Maybe he didn’t make that information available to me so he could sell a car and boast his numbers, I don’t know.  Second, I can’t believe Ford would simply be fine with allowing me to drive a car that cuts off on the highway.  Wouldn’t you think it would behoove them to take the $30/day hit and issue me a rental car (or a free loaner from their lot) than risk a potential death because of their malfunctioning part? Third, Pam (the service manager at the Ford dealership) never mentioned anything about a recall.  

Please help me if you can.  Thank you for your time."

I realize this is a lengthy post, but it needs to be public. There has not been enough publicity about Ford's transmission/clutch package issues that puts their customers in potentially life threatening positions.  Please help me get the word out so the guilty party(ies) will face their problems.

-JFC

New Poetry entry- THE HAIR

Check out the poetry section as Johnny describes THE HAIR!

Magazine Article- The Beverage Cart, July 2015

Points North Atlanta- The Beverage Cart

This article was published by Points North Atlanta in their July 2015 issue.  I've been writing since I was a little boy. I was the editor of my high school newspaper and literary magazine. My first juvenile book, Across the Lunchroom, was published in 2014.  But there's something deeply satisfying about seeing your first article in print!

I just wanted to share this, as I'm proud of the new freelancing journey I've started.

The Pines of the Past

The Pines of the Past, by J. Fredrick Clark

Inside this man there lives a boy,

And in that boy with little care,

Another one lives who plays coy

With a separate shiny toy,

His voice- I still hear it, I swear!

Beneath the tree we used to swing,

Up the hill that once seemed bigger,

The seat of rubber used to sting

When the sun would bake everything!

As boys we would jump and snigger.

Now I cannot recall those times,

As I could once before, you see-

Between the sappy, creaking pines

The wind would whistle spooky chimes;

This I remember vividly.

Fond memories of yesterday

Are chased by visions of the past,

Which, by my count will rarely stay

Up the hill where we used to play

And wish for times that have long passed.





[This poem is my attempt to mimic Robert Frost's style in "The Road Not Taken"- though, in traditional iambic tetrameter, I stuck to the eight syllables per line,]